The Bridge

Otherwise known as the Production Gallery, this is the command module for the programme, where moment-to-moment decisions get made.

Ian Lorimer

Director

Ian Lorimer

Has been at QIsince the pilot

In a television studio, the director’s word is law – all decisions are routed via him and, through the live microphone on the console in front of him, his voice is heard by almost the entire crew: not only his immediate staff but sound, lighting, floor management and cameras. One of the finest directors in his field, Ian is an indispensable part of QI, having directed every single episode, including the pilot. Responsible not just for ‘calling the shots’ in terms of what gets recorded, he also works closely with the picture research team to create QI’s ‘look’ – one that he has made unique amongst panel games anywhere. Live recordings can be stressful – but Ian is relentlessly calm and cheerful.

quite interestingIan is one of only three people at QI who has worked on 137 out of 137 recordings.

Alice Osborne

Script Supervisor

Alice Osborne

Has been at QI since the pilot

Alice’s job is all consuming because she is part ‘back office’ and part ‘front of house’. She is the director’s right-hand person (even though she sits to Ian’s immediate left) and, like an octopus, needs nine brains. She is responsible for script formatting, calling countdowns, noting retakes, reminding people, altering things, changing things all over again, music copyright and a dozen other things that require close attention to detail and the patience of a saint. Like, Ian, Alice is one of the people who’s been with QI since the pilot.

aliceosborneuk@yahoo.co.uk

quite interestingIn Shakespeare's day, the scripts used by actors only contained their own parts plus their cues. This was so that if an actor defected to another company he couldn't take a whole play with him.

Piers Fletcher

Producer

Piers Fletcher

Has been at QIsince The C Series

The producer’s job is to keep an overall eye on the show as a whole, with particular attention to content – whether comedy, accuracy or compliance –while the director concentrates more on technical excellence. Piers can contact Stephen Fry at any time, verbally through his earpiece, or via a keyboard connected to a small monitor concealed in the set. For any research issues that come up during the recording, he is assisted by the QI Elves (led by the Duty Elf) who are packed into a glass box behind the gallery and are continually online. One of the best-organised human beings on Earth, Piers takes extensive notes to facilitate the long edit that will take up his summer.

quite interestingAs well as being the show's producer, Piers is also the captain of the research team when the show is in gestation.

You can find out more about him here

Carol Abbott

Vision Mixer

Carol Abbott

Has been at QI since the pilot

The vision mixer is a vital component of any television show – especially one recorded ‘as live’, and even more so when totally unscripted and as wildly unpredictable as QI. Though we use six cameras, we only record on three video machines, and it’s the vision mixer who decides which shots we take. With a wall full of monitor screens – not just multiple camera output but video and stills feeds – she needs lightning-fast reactions and an almost magical intuitive sense, somehow knowing who is about to speak even before they do so. Carol is the doyenne of the genre and has a long association with John Lloyd – they first worked together on Blackadder in the 80s.

carol@sceda.co.uk

quite interestingBats aren’t blind. Almost all bats have much better night-vision than humans.

Lumina

Scoring

Lumina

QI's scoring system has long been in the hands of a shadowy syndicate known as 'Lumina'. Their representatives guard their identities more closely than Michelin reviewers or CIA agents. However, we can assure you that Colin (not his real name) is a lovely person - even if he doesn’t appear to be able to add up.

www.luminatv.tv

quite interestingNorway has got 'nul points' in the Eurovision Song Contest four times since the competition began in 1956.